2018 WSOP Circuit – February

The first ever World Series of Poker Circuit at Seminole Casino Coconut Creek kicked off Thursday, February 8 and concluded Monday, February 19. The 12-day series saw a total of 13 gold rings won and more than $2,700,000 in prizes earned.

Kammar Andries, Main Event Champion

Headlining the series as the Main Event champion was Kammar Andries of Ocoee, Florida. In addition to more than $240,000 in cash, he earned a berth in the $10,000 Global Casino Championship where he’ll compete for his share of a prize pool valued at at least $1,000,000. Joining him at the season-ending event will be Karthik Ramakrishnan, the Coconut Creek Casino Champion.

The World Series of Poker Circuit Main Event concluded late Monday night at Seminole Casino Coconut Creek in South Florida. The $1,675 buy-in series headliner saw Kammar Andries of Ocoee, FL claim the title along with $241,898 and the tour’s token prize, a gold ring. In addition, he punched his ticket into the Circuit season-ending Global Casino Championship.

The 2018 WSOP Circuit marked the property’s first time to host the tour and the series went off without a hitch. In total, there were 13 gold ring events including a $365 re-entry opener with a total prize pool of over $525,000, a $3,250 buy-in High Roller that drew more than 70 entries and, of course, the $1,675 Main Event. With a $1,000,000 guarantee, the finale drew players from around the world. Over the course of two starting flights, the field topped out at 827 entries generating a total prize pool of more than $1,200,000.

Day 2 saw 155 players return to play for one of the 90 in-the-money spots including Mukul Pahuja, Matt Stout, Wally Maddah, Phil Hui, and Ian O’Hara. Andrew Pacifico returned with the lead but he was unable to ride it to the last day of the tournament. The bubble came and went as Florida’s Jerry Wong, TK Miles, Paul Balzano, Wally Maddah, and O’Hara were among those to finish in the money. The field narrowed to only 15 remaining by the time Day 2 wrapped and it was Altman that claimed the lead with Day 3 around the corner.

The decisive day moved fast to start as it took barely 90 minutes to trim the field to 10 and consolidate to the unofficial final table. Altman retained his lead until only three players remained. He lost a huge hand with queens versus kings for an unexpected exit against Andries.

Altman flopped a queen but Andries returned the favor with a king on the turn.

“I didn’t even flinch when the queen came out,” Andries said of the big hand. “The king came and I knew that was it.”

Andries went into a heads-up play with better than a two-to-one advantage against Mike Linster. The match was over after 16 hands and Andries had to take a moment away from The Pavilion to appreciate what he accomplished.

For Andries, the win marked a successful series that included a fourth, eleventh, and fourth place finish followed by his Main Event win.

“I took a week off from work to take a legit shot,” Andries said. “I wanted to be serious and I wanted to win a ring.”

“My wife stayed home with the kids,” he said of his wife Jackie. “She’s been supportive since I met her.”

Andries, a physical therapist by trade, finished off his big series with the WSOP Circuit Main Event win and he looks forward to taking part in the Global Casino Championship later in the year.

Congrats to Andries and everyone else for a great ending to the series.

Andries was head with tens up and Linster could not come back on the river. Linster had to settle for the $149,480 runner-up payout while Andries collected $241,898 for the win along with the WSOP Circuit gold ring and seat in the Global Casino Championship.

Brian Altman opened to 225,000 from the button and Kammar Andries three-bet to 750,000 from the small blind. Mike Linster released his big blind and Altman four-bet to 1,450,000. Andries moved all in for 5,595,000 and Altman called

Altman: Andries:

Andries was dealt another top hand but it looked bad on the . If Andries was unhappy, it didn’t last long. Only until the two-out on the turn. Altman could not find a one-out save on the river to send the massive pot to Andries.

Kammar Andries limped from middle position and short-stacked Dafney Adisson moved all in for 190,000 from the small blind. Brian Altman moved all in from the big blind and Andries called at risk after counting out his stack worth 1,300,000.

Adisson: Altman: Andries:

Andries was ahead and paired the flop. Altman picked up an open-ended straight draw on the turn but the sent the pot to Andries. Adisson was eliminated in sixth place while Andries more than doubled his stack.